IRVINE, CA (CelebrityAccess) — Activision announced that Mike Morhaime, one of the founders and longtime President of Blizzard Entertainment had stepped down from his position at the company.
“After many years of working with some of the industry’s most talented people to create games and worlds for you to play in, I’ve decided it’s time for someone else to lead Blizzard Entertainment,” Morhaime said in a statement. “I will now serve as an advisor to the company I so love and admire. My duties as president of Blizzard will be assumed by my friend, colleague, trusted advisor, and longtime steward of World of Warcraft, J. Allen Brack.”
During his tenure, Morhaime oversaw the development of Blizzard Entertainment’s key products, including their major e-sports franchises such as Starcraft and the Overwatch league, which launched last year via a partnership with AEG.
Morhaime, whose career at Blizzard spanned decades, is likely the longest-serving CEO at a major game developer and he played a significant role in developing the company’s reputation for delivering tightly honed products.
Morhaime was also a driving force behind the company’s significant investments in professional e-sports such as Starcraft, which counted Morhaime among its fans.
In announcing his exit, Morhaime expressed his gratitude his colleagues and the staff at Blizzard, as well as the company’s fans, thanking them for their support over the years.
“Not only have you been with me through many of the greatest moments and biggest triumphs of my life, but you have also been there through some of the most difficult. I am fortunate to have been able to meet many of you in person, while the many messages, emails, Tweets, Reddit discussions, and forum posts have provided an unbelievable connection as well. Even Twitch chat. It has always brought me joy, comfort, and inspiration to see the beacons of brilliance, voices of reason, and the passion that exists and evolves every day in all of our communities,” Morhaime stated.
